The battle for supremacy in the video game market is set to hot up with the launch of Nintendo's latest console, the GameCube, in Europe.

The colourful games machine is the third and final entrant into the lucrative market, and Nintendo hopes its lower price and range of games will help it challenge Sony's Playstation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox.

Console wars

XboxUK price: £199

GameCubeUK price: £129

PlayStation 2UK price: £199

More than 50,000 gamers in the UK had placed advance orders, and a number of stores in the UK opened their doors at midnight on Thursday for the launch.

In London, the first console was claimed by 19-year-old Sarah Dodd, from Clapham.

The self-confessed "games addict" was rewarded for her 16-hour wait with a free GameCube and a clutch of games.

"I came with a friend and I feel a little bad that I was number one and he was number two," she said. "But I will let him play some of my games."

She added: "This is the one time I am extremely odd, most of the year I am normal."

Nintendo recently announced a price cut for the console in Europe, making it available for 199 euros (£129) - £70 cheaper than its rivals.

It is not the most powerful of the machines, but is being aimed at people who prefer the gaming experience to the added extras.

Its rivals can do things like play CDs and DVDs - but the GameCube will just be for playing games.